Page 1 of Dante
Chapter 1
Dante
“All right,” Atticus said. “We know there are approximately five demons running between the realms, but there could be more. We’ve all been here before. We know what to do and how to go about accomplishing it.”
“How?” Augustus asked. “Do we enter the same way we did from the demon realm? I’ve never tried and never really wanted to.”
I took a step closer to Augustus and nodded. “Same,” I said. “How do we make sure we get back here?” Atticus made a face, which told me what I’d suspected as his words confirmed it.
“I can’t say for certain that things will work the same. We’re going into an unknown at this point. It’s been centuries since any of us have been where we’re going. I would have to assume that because we have all been blocked from entering the demon realm without the goddess’s assistance, when we try to return to a realm, our magic will bring us here. Especially since we now have her magic and not our creator’s.”
“There’s no guarantees though,” I said.
Atticus shook his head. “Take an hour and do what you need to do, see whoever you need to say goodbye to. Be back here then, and we’ll enter together.”
Warwick and Damien both disappeared immediately. I couldn’t say that I blamed them. They both had mates to see. Warwick had babies. I looked at Atticus, but he disappeared after giving us a curt nod. That left me with Augustus.
“You going to go see him?”
I sighed. “I don’t know why I would.”
Augustus pushed on my shoulder. “Because he’s your mate? Why haven’t you made a move? Do you honestly not want him?”
I thought about that for a fraction of a moment and shrugged in answer. “That’s not it,” I said. “You know I failed him. I couldn’t protect him or the others. I tried, but look at what happened to them.”
Augustus growled. “You did what you could at the time. Yes, we are hellhounds, but you didn’t have your powers. You were just one beast against many. With weapons.” Augustus sighed. “And you did save him. More than once. You watched over them.”
I shook my head. “He is not for me. He will eventually be given a new mate. One who has not ever failed him.”
I didn’t see the smack coming because I was looking off in the other direction, but Augustus whacked me good on the back of the head. When I glared at him, he raised an eyebrow at me. I sighed.
“Fine. I will go see him. But that is all.”
“Good,” Augustus said. “I’ll come along. I would love a pastry or two before we leave. We both know how things are going to be once we enter that space.”
I admitted defeat. I knew Augustus was only coming in order to make sure I actually went through with going to the bakery to see Banner. I nodded slowly and started walking.
“How long do you think it will take?” I asked, trying to make conversation on our way to the bakery. I was not looking forward to visiting between the realms again. It wasn’t quite as terrible as the demon realm, but it was unnerving in a completely different way. Whereas the demon realm was insufferably hot and loud, when you were between the realms, it was the opposite. It was stark cold and eerily silent. There was absolutely no noise whatsoever. None. Even when we were in what we referred to as a Nexus, any noise that would come from us seemed to simply not translate into anything audible. No breathing, panting, barking, no demon’s screams. Nothing.
“The trip to the bakery? Maybe five minutes to get there with the speed you’re walking.”
I scowled at Augustus. “Not what I meant, and you know it.”
“The trip into the Nexus? I’m not sure. Could be a day, could be weeks.”
Augustus and I both seemed to shiver at that thought. We’d been there before. Together even. But we’d never experienced it from this realm. What it did to this side of things. We knew that when demons were in the Nexus and hellhounds were chasing them, there was a horrendous noise in the demon realm. I hadn’t realized that it came through in this one as well. Well, in a way, of sorts.
“You should talk to him,” Augustus said as we finally approached the bakery.
“About what? How is he now feeling about my inability to save them?” I shook my head. “He’d do better to find someone else for his mate. I should be sure to bring that up to the fates next time we have a meeting with them.”
I heard growling beside me again but ignored it as I reached for the door to the bakery. The usual lineup was there, and it only took seconds for me to zero in on Banner. He was smiling at whoever he was talking to and helping. His smile was gorgeous,like the rest of him, but I knew he deserved someone who hadn’t failed to get him out of those cages. I got in line, thinking I’d get Tate as the next one to help me, but was really surprised when it was Banner. He finished with whoever he was helping and then looked to me with a smile pasted on his face. It dimmed just a bit, but he still smiled.
“Hello. How can I help you?” Banner asked.
I nodded. “Can I get a pair of those coffee cinnamon rolls? And a vanilla latte?”
Banner’s smile grew. “Do you really like those cinnamon rolls?”
